Cleaning a used tank

Gordon Parks wrote:
I just bought a used 55 gallon tank and it has a lot of calcium deposits
around the top. I would like to clean this off before I set it up. I tried
to scrape it off, but it is slow going unless I use metal tool and I am
afraid I will scratch the tank glass and the plastic moldings. I was
thinking about using a weak muratic acid solution but wanted to see it
anyone else had a better idea first. My wife thinks it will etch the glass
if it is too strong.

Anyone have a good solution for cleaning hard water deposits off a tank?


Muriatic acid (HCl) does not etch glass, but as George pointed out it
isn't great for hard water deposits. I find that white vinegar works
better if you prefer a chemical. Personally, I hose the glass down to
remove any sand or dirt that could scratch, and then scrape off the
deposits with a razor blade. (This only works on glass - not acrylic.)

Another thing, are the deposits visible once the tank is filled? I've
seen aquaria with hard water deposits on the inside glass, filled them
up, and sometimes had the deposits disappear.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com